Can you give me some suggestion on both leds and t5 that are not too expensive cuz I'm on a tight budget.

In my opinion, I'd get taotronic dimmable LEDs! You can dim the lights to adjust to your tank, and use them for any upgrade you have coming up. I used my LEDs on my 20 and now they're on my 40 gallon! Also they don't produce heat and don't need to be replaced! I had t5s and they were okay, but LEDs are amazing! Just my opinion!

In my opinion, I'd get taotronic dimmable LEDs! You can dim the lights to adjust to your tank, and use them for any upgrade you have coming up. I used my LEDs on my 20 and now they're on my 40 gallon! Also they don't produce heat and don't need to be replaced! I had t5s and they were okay, but LEDs are amazing! Just my opinion!

Well I got my unit used for 100$ can't get much cheaper than that! At first I went with t5s because they were more affordable and did the job! But then I wanted sps and a clam and nem etc. in which case higher light is needed! So I knew I had to get LEDs and it was the best choice I made like I said before, this is just my opinion!

The Taotronic LEDs are about as inexpensive as they get, and are *awesome* lights to boot. Unlike T5 bulbs, which are pricey and need to be replaced at regular intervals, they never need to be replaced.

The Taotronic LEDs are about as inexpensive as they get, and are *awesome* lights to boot. Unlike T5 bulbs, which are pricey and need to be replaced at regular intervals, they never need to be replaced.

Currently, LEDs are doing great. They are just overly pricey at the start...but the optics will last for roughly 10 years. I personally use Ecotech Radions, but the Taotronics do the job for a much better price.
T5HO are an option, but need several bulb units to keep LPS and even more for sps. ALong with that, standard bulbs don't usually cut the mustard and then drop money on pricier bulbs. I have some of these bulbs just sitting in my living room gathering dust because I got tired of replacing them and got LEDs. Bulbs need to be replaced every 6 months as with age the spectrum they put out changes.MH have kept coral for years and were the high output standard until LEDs hit the market. They put out a ton of heat and makes tanks quite hot, usually requiring a fan or even a chiller to keep the temp down. Then it can come down to the bulbs yet again just like T5HO.
All of these work, just in terms of saving money and not needing to upgrade LED wins. You just need to be careful not to burn corals. I did that when I first got my Radions when I underestimated the pure penetration power LEDs offer. Because of this, if you get any LED unit you should look into a feature that allows you to dim them to assist with acclimation of new corals into your tank.

I don't know if they make them anymore I got them a few years back I have seen them selling for cheap online only problem you cannot dim them you can only open or close each light but they are great grew my first mix reef with them.